Cool Hunting
| 28 May 2009view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Painter Christian Rex van Minnen
by Lost At E Minor
Taking Surrealism back to its roots, Denver-based painter Christian Rex van Minnen has a less direct approach but similar style to that of Giuseppe Arcimboldo's sixteenth-century portrait heads.
Playing with finely-rendered textures and visceral components suggesting organs, skin, meat, crustaceans and plant life, but also including more literal elements like flowers, clothing and silhouettes, the artist uses dramatic, one-point lighting adding a depth and creepiness to his work, drawing out the grotesque forms and surfaces.
Alexander von Humboldt and the Botanical Exploration of the Americas
by Max Gold
Prussian scientist Baron Alexander von Humboldt explained aurora borealis and founded modern bio-geography. Less known however, is Humboldt's adventure to Spain's American colonies for what would become the greatest botanical expedition of all time. Now, at the 150th anniversary of Humboldt's death, the beautiful hardcover, "Alexander von Humboldt and the Botanical Exploration of the Americas," collects all primary records of his findings.
Humboldt, together with his associates Bonpland and Kunth, roamed the most diverse regions of the new American colonies. They preserved specimens with careful illustrations, all of which are re-printed on eighty-two color plates. But these images aren't just scientific sketches, they're nothing short of botanical masterpieces. Humboldt's enthusiasm for the plant kingdom comes through in his diary, much of which has been published to compliment the rich illustrations and photographs.
Baron Alexander von Humboldt was documenting trends in biological diversity before Charles Darwin crystallized the concept of genes. Darwin said of Humboldt, "I have always admired him; now I worship him." It's too bad that Darwin can't get a hold of this new book, available from the Prestel store next month or now from Amazon.
For more gorgeous images, visit after the jump.
Loving Day Celebrations
by CH Contributor
by Ariston Anderson
When Ken Tanabe stumbled upon the Supreme Court case Loving vs. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriage in the U.S., he was shocked that there was no holiday to commemorate the occasion. So he decided to start his own. "I realized that most people had never heard of this civil rights milestone," he tells CH. "I started Loving Day to fight prejudice against multiracial and multicultural couples and individuals. The subject interested me personally because I'm half Japanese, half Belgian and the first American in my family."
This 7 June 2009 will mark the 6th annual Loving Day celebration, with the flagship event in New York City. On the agenda is a day of free BBQ, drinks and music from DJ Dhundee and DJ Tyler Askew. Not only is the day one of celebration, but it's also an educational tool along the lines of the Rosa Parks story and Brown vs. the Board of Education. Tanabe encourages people around the country to hold their own events, both on a large scale in cities or smaller in families and communities.
"Loving Day is especially significant this year because of Barack Obama," says Tanabe. "Now, the U.S. has its first black president who is also multiracial and multicultural. While this doesn't instantly end racism, it is certainly an inspiration to the multicultural community and a positive step towards mainstream consciousness surrounding multiracial and multicultural identity."
To RSVP to the NYC event email lovingdayparty [at] gmail [dot] com.
Loving Day
7 June 2009, 3-7pm
Solar 1
2420 FDR Drive, Service Road East
New York, NY 10010 map
tel. +1 212 505 6050
Bagua Shoes
by CH Contributor
by Paolo Ferrarini of Future Concept Lab
Walking a mile in martial arts master Bruce Lee's shoes is a dream likely to never happen, but thanks to French label Bagua we can at least put a little Kung-Fu feeling in our step.
Based on the centuries-old iconic design of the elegant and lightweight shoe worn by Kung-Fu and Tai-Chi masters, the simple construction and comfortable fit of Bagua shoes allow for greater harmony between man and environment. Easier movement heightens productivity, improving health and quality of life.
Small details that represent the Taoist philosophy, such as the octagon emblem on the elastic closure and the honeycomb print on the insole, accent the shoe's rudimentary form. The name itself, derived from Ba gua, translates as "eight divine symbols," reflected by the octagon diagram which represents a series of eight interrelated concepts.
Mixing old and new myths, the Bagua mission is to create a stylish shoes that also encourage long walks and profound thoughts. The shoes have just recently become available in stores around Europe and online starting at €55.
